Page 57 of Rear View

Xavier

Fuuuck. My head drummed like someone had beat it with a torque wrench. A loud beep cut through the thumping.

I opened my eyes. Fluorescent lights buzzed and tinked above me, making the room too damn bright. Everything hurt: my back, shoulder, knees. I grunted when I tried to shift but my arm came up short. The clank of metal had my head turning.

I frowned at the cuffs locked around my right arm, latching me to the bed rail—a hospital bed.

Hospital? Why the hell am I in the hospital?

My eyes flew wide, my head snapping around as I scanned the room. “Ryah!”

The cop standin’ guard by the door mean-mugged me as he hooked his thumbs into his service belt, while some older guy I didn’t recognize took up a chair in the corner.

I sat up with a shot, my head spinning from the move. “Where’s Ryah?” I said, the words thick as hell. “Where’s my girl?”

That old guy pushed up, his dress shoes tapping over the floor as he adjusted his suit coat and closed in. “I’m glad to see you’re awake, Mr. Bosch. My name’s Officer Maynard. I have a few questions for you to answer.”

The name was familiar, and when it clicked why, my jaw locked down. “The dick who ignored my girl when she asked for help?”

Maynard’s brow dropped low while he scowled and pulled out a notepad and pen.

Dude must’ve thought I was stupid. But I’d learned a few things since my first go-round with the law. “I ain’t answerin’ shit for you. Now where’s my fuckin’ girl?”

“Unfortunately, as this investigation is ongoing”—his mouth tugged in a fake-as-hell smile—“I can’t disclose that information.”

Prick!

Glancing down, I eyed the hospital gown I’d been strapped into, then the cuts and gashes along my forearms. My clothes were gone. “I need my phone.”

“It’s been confiscated as evidence.”

My jeans…the key chain. “Can I use one here? Make a call?”

He shook his head. “No. And no visitors either.”

Goddammit! My ribs locked over my lungs. I dragged my free hand through my hair. I just needed to hear about her. Needed to know she was alright. That she was breathing. “What about Alec?”

“He’s been taken down to EPD headquarters for questioning.”

My gut twisted, bile burning the back of my throat. Not ideal, but not shocking either. Alec was smart enough to know not to talk. And they’d need a warrant to look at his phone, so that’d slow stuff down. “When can I get outta here?”

“You’re under arrest, Mr. Bosch. Once the doctor’s released you, you’ll be taken down to booking.”

“Under arrest for what ? Doing your goddamn job for you?”

That fake smile widened. “Second-degree murder and criminal negligence causing death.”

My head snapped back, and my spine went rigid, the world tipping on its axis. “Second degree? The fuck? ”

“You’re a professional driver, Mr. Bosch. You knew what you were doing, and your actions resulted in a man being killed.” He gestured to the TV in the corner. “The helicopter footage is everywhere. It’s obvious to anyone who’s seen it.”

I dropped back onto the bed, giving it my weight ’cause I sure as hell couldn’t hold it. I cleared my throat and looked away. Second degree meant time. Real time. A lot of it. Years away from my girl.

Christ. It was like my life was playing on repeat.

A nurse in dog-face-printed scrubs crossed into the room, some supplies in hand. The same nurse from the first day I’d met Ryah and brought her in. Her scowl landed on Maynard. “I’ll thank you to leave my patient alone until he’s been cleared by a doctor, Officer.”

Maynard’s lip tugged in a snarl, but he was smart enough to keep his mouth shut.

“How’re you feeling, Xavier?” she asked, heading around to the far side of my bed.

Last thing I wanted was to be booked, but if it meant a call to find out about Ryah, I’d move that train along. “Good.”

She shifted, swapping out my IV bag. “The doctor removed several pieces of debris from your back, but your wounds were all pretty superficial. A few lacerations. Otherwise, you’re fine.

There’s no indication of a concussion. We’ll be keeping you overnight for observation, so I suspect you’ll be released by shift change tomorrow. ”

The next day? I wouldn’t be talking to anyone until the next goddamn day? My throat cinched tight, and I rubbed my chest.

Maynard’s phone rang. Taking it out, he stepped away and answered, “Juan.” He paused. “Already? That’s good.” Another pause. “When?” Twisting his wrist, he checked his watch, and his chest puffed out like he was eager. “I’ll see you then.”

“What’s going on?” the cop at the door asked.

“Highway Patrol’s finished with the scene.

Castillo wants me to forward the evidence over tonight.

He’s holding a press conference in the morning and requested me there.

” Maynard grabbed the brown wool coat off his chair, then slipped the thing on and popped the collar before he eyed me. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Mr. Bosch.”

My ribs locked over my lungs. So much for the system working.

The nurse leaned down and fluffed my pillow. “Your young lady is down the hall,” she said, her voice pitched low.

My head snapped her way. Down the hall. She was down the hall. If she was in the hospital, then she was still breathing. Shoulders dropping, I exhaled, long and slow, then offered nurse lady a nod of thanks.

She winked and stepped away, heading across the room. “Would you like the TV on?”

My girl was alive. Knowin’ that meant I could handle anything that came my way. Just as well to see what I was up against. I cleared my throat. “The news, please.”

* * *

Someone yelled outside my room, farther away. The voice was familiar… I thought. But it’d been muffled when it echoed down the hospital hall, so I didn’t know for sure.

I blinked hard, the morning sun bright where it blazed through my window, making the place warm. A new cop’d replaced the one at my door somewhere around five AM. He’d brought some sweats I’d changed into, seeing as I couldn’t be discharged in a hospital gown.

I hadn’t slept. Just watched the news on repeat all night, trying to get a sense of stuff. They’d practically played the helicopter footage on loop. Commentators added their opinions, and listening to ’em talk about my chances had sweat slicking my skin while the walls closed in.

The fact that Castillo hadn’t come by couldn’t have been good. With a 98 percent conviction rate, he was hot shit at his job, so chances were, my fate was good and sealed. And knowing it meant I’d barely held back from upchucking my guts.

I couldn’t get the thought of prison outta my head.

I loved my girl more than anything in this goddamn world.

Loved her enough to do what was right. She’d already lost too much time.

If this shook out bad for me, I wouldn’t have her waiting for me while I rotted behind bars.

Wasn’t taking another second of her life.

The idea of losing her… Jesus! My eyes burned, my vision going unfocused. It hurt so bad I could barely think it. But I needed to, for her. Everything for her. Always.

“Xavier!” that familiar voice called. “XAVIER BOSCH!”

I sat up with a shot, arm comin’ up short on my cuff. My heart slammed against my ribs when I bellowed, “MILES!”

The cop at the door stiffened.

“Xavier!” Feet pounded when Miles closed in, his shoulders heaving as he skidded to a stop outside my room.

Facing him, the cop shook his head. “No visitors allowed.”

Throwing my feet over the side of my bed, I stood. “Ryah,” I said, fuckin’ frantic. “How is she? How’s my girl?”

“Stop talking, Bosch!” the cop threw over his shoulder.

“She’s good,” Miles said, the words thick. “Wanted me to say she loves you.”

My lungs kick-started, working for the first time in a goddamn day.

“You can’t be here, sir.” The cop edged toward Miles, his grip resting over his Taser. “Leave. Now.”

Miles raised his arms, palms out. “Easy, Copper. I’m not breaking him out, for Chrissakes.” His stare found mine. “We’re here, man. We’re watching the conference and we’re here and we’re fucking with you.”

My chest hitched. With me. They were with me. I wasn’t alone.

The cop rolled his neck. “Talk to my prisoner again and I’ll place you under arrest for interfering with an investigation.”

Prick.

“Alright, alright,” Miles grumbled, takin’ a step back.

I sealed my hold over the rail of my bed, locking tight to steady myself. Ryah’d gotten to me. Time to return the favor. I tipped my chin up. “Tell her I love her too, Miles.”

The corner of his mouth lifted. He gave me a salute, then he was gone.

Resuming his post, the cop folded his arms over his chest and glared at me like I should give a shit.

I propped my hip against the less-than-stellar mattress and ran my free hand through my hair. My girl was okay.

I wasn’t alone.

My attention flicked to the TV. The countdown to Castillo’s press conference was posted in the top right corner of the screen—a press conference that was set to start in three minutes. Sweat slicked my brow, and my stomach rolled.

Maynard and a handful of other official-looking people moved in, taking their places behind the crown attorney, arms linked in front of them while they surveyed the spectators that packed the area.

A few I recognized: Yara, my crew, Earl, Alec and Sheila, Sean and a shit ton of people with media lanyards.